Just got my issue of Cigar Aficionado. As usual headed straight to the ratings. I scan quickly through them to see what I've already smoked. What a shock I got when I hit my favorite category the Grandes as they call them. I call them Gordos and size is generally 6x60. The top 2 had a score of 95. Not only high for gordos but ended up being the highest for the month. Now what exotics are they? Surprisingly you may have smoked one or both. The first is the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua Espeso. The second is in my top ten. The Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Double Toro. This is a stunning development in the industry. Not that long ago CA wouldn't even rate these cigars because nobody took them seriously. I remember having to hunt for cigarmakers that put them out. Now they're finely legitimate. For all of us that saw the potential for amazing blends in this size. This has been a long wait. CA only started rating them around 4 years ago. Let's hear it for the Gordos...hip hop harrah , hip hip harrah.

I've been smoking cigars for 40+ years. I've been a subscriber to CA since they started. When I started smoking Churchills were considered large. If you wanted something bigger you had to go to some tourist-trap and buy that huge gag cigar made of who knew what. I stumbled on them some years later and started sampling them. It was during the first cigar boom that more companies putting out a few serious blends. Now the first great large gauge cigar I really feel for was Big Butts. I still have about 40 left and they are fantastic. So as far as shapes go. Gordos are fairly young.

Some men are chubby chasers.

^I think lonsdales have been making a bit of a comeback, as aficionados and formerly CC exclusive smokers look for these smaller ring gauge vitolas.

As for gordos, the reasons listed above are valid, but the biggest one is ease of manufacturing. You don't need a highly skilled roller to get a cigar that draws and burns OK. In my experience, the gordos are generally the worst of the vitolas in most blends, as they seem to mostly add a bunch of flavorless filler to reach that size. If blended specifically for that size they can work, but more often they are not.

While I haven’t purchased or smoked too many Gordos, I haven’t found one that I would repurchase or seek out either. Additionally, in the future, I honestly don’t think there’ll ever be a 60RG cigar I would even consider purchasing, regardless of manufacturer, blend or reviews.

The popularity of 60 ring cigars may well be due to Oliva's Nub line. Those that didn't car for the Nub line usually smoked them too quickly or too slowly. Around 66 minutes was my optimum enjoyment time for the 4x60. I can't think of any other 60 rings that were good, but the Muy Buesos, MX2 and Triple Maduro I tried are pretty good.

the more wrapper in the wrapper-to-filler ratio the more flavor...98.2% of the time.

Used to always be said that when blenders were sampling proposed blends, coronas were the standard vitola used to decide if ready for the marketplace.

I know you've mentioned Padrons over the years, I would smoke any from the 3000 down but always preferred (I believe you as well) the Delicias or the Londres...neither exactly the dimensions you posted but close enough for me.

It was the Palmas and the Londres.
Great cigars for the coin back in the day, after letting them sit for a longish nap.
Gotta sip those however, as they can overheat quickly.

The Delicias is basically a smallish robusto, but I like them as well.

Frank posts in a thread about Gordos and no mention of his.... ??

Now I've smoked a boatload of gordos over time but I've smoked more of the other sizes. I pick a cigar according to the amount of time I have or willing to smoke. I guess the least of a certain size is coronas. The time when I reach for a gordos are the times I'm watching sports and plan to have at least 2 1/2hrs. I am just starting to try Lanceros and the ones I've tried have been enjoyable. The Churchills are what I've smoked the most of over the years. Now I try not to get hung up on any one thing.

Just sayin…

ah, yes...you are correct, Sire.

Hadn't tried that one. Just recently started exploring EPCs lately. I am always trying new things as that's part of the hobby.

The Hi Land place has a sale on Leaf by Oscar Maduro gordos. $116 seems pretty good for people who are into that cigar and those sizes. .

Most cigars I smoke are at least 10 years and older. The gordo get better with age, at least the ones I like. I rotate what I smoke. Today I tried an experiment and smoked the same cigar in three different shapes. San Lotano Ovals in robusto , Gordo and torpedo. All 5 years old. What I found was that none of them tasted the same and I'm guessing that they will get further apart as they age.